Dig It - 10/16/23

Hello Fellow Seekers, today we are going to look at a very interesting doll from the Collection of Forrest Fenn, pages 140 and 141, plate 49 in his book, “Historic American Indian Dolls”.

The doll is identified as Plateau, with no specific tribal affiliation. She is 11” tall and dated to 1870. Based on the type of stroud used for her leggings and some of the beads I believe the date is accurate, though she could even be a little earlier. Forrest did not have a lot to say about her except that the lack of beads on her feet indicated to him she was suppose to be barefoot, though I would disagree with that opinion. She does have a wonderful dress with a morning star like element at the center below the chin. Pendents of dentalium shell and beads hang from the dress’s yoke. She also has a thick commercial leather belt.

It is interesting that she has a simple ball of cloth to represent the head. I have seen this on a number of dolls from the Plateau area. Whether this was the device of a specific doll maker or a tribal taboo not to represent facial identity, I do not know, but I “Dig” the the result of placing the emphasis totally on the costume and not the individual. The doll is available for sale.

Seek Out! -Lonesome.